The money the other parent spends on housing, utilities, and food is money that is shared with your children. If you believe your children are not being adequately fed, clothed, or housed, you should contact the social/human services agency where your children live. Neither the state nor the federal government has jurisdiction (control) over how a parent spends child support payments.

Paternity can be established any time after the child is born. However, a court action to establish paternity must occur before the child’s 19th birthday. If the mother was married at the time of the child’s birth, State of Wisconsin Law assumes the husband to be the father.

Wisconsin law requires income withholding. Generally, only self-employed parents do not use income withholding. Those who are self-employed might need to arrange for automatic payments of support from a bank account.

Monthly account statements are mailed automatically if you are not on income withholding, if you are behind on scheduled payments, or you recently mailed in a payment to the Trust Fund by mailing coupon. If you wish to receive monthly statements, contact the child support agency.

You can also view your payments/balances online at the Child Support Online Services website: